J. Fynn - The Long Game

JIMMY BOY LEANED on the counter and flashed a sweet smile at the cute blonde working the register.

Im sure glad yall were open this early cause our pa wanted to have the new deck done this weekend.

I kept my head bowed, eyes trained on the scuffed tennis shoes Id pulled on in a rush to make it to the truck before we hightailed it to Slidell.

My brother and I hadnt made the ten-minute drive to the hardware store to get parts for a new deck, and we certainly werent building one with our da. But, for some reason, thats what Jimmy Boyd come up withas if visiting a hardware store for a box of screws was so unusual it required some kind of grand explanation.

Lying for lyings sake never made me uncomfortable. If there was one thing I knew about being a Traveler, its that Travelers didnt truck with being honest with country people, even when being dishonest wasnt strictly necessary. Besides, it was difficult switching between talking from both sides of your mouth out on the road to being straight with people once you got home. There was just no point in trying to keep track of who youd lied to and who you hadnt.

The girl grinned, taken by my brothers charm. Well, Im sure glad yall came in. She batted lashes almost too pale to see.

I fought the smile pulling at the corner of my mouth. Most Traveler men had their fathers or uncles to show them the ropes. I really only had my older brother, but hed been enough. Jimmy Boy could piss on your leg, tell you it was raining, and then sell you a broken umbrella. And hed taught me everything I knew.

Im glad youre glad, Jimmy Boy said. He leaned in further, his elbow inching across the counter so his face moved closer to hers.

She blushed and dropped her eyes, and I saw my opening.

All right, lover boy, move it so I can pay, and we can stop wasting this girls time. I nudged him aside with my hip and shoulder as I pulled a ten from my wallet and handed it to her. Her eyes only flickered to me for a second as the money moved from my hand to hers. So far, so good.

The blonde watched Jimmy Boy through lowered lashes as she counted out my change. A five and three ones. It couldnt have worked out better if shed been in on the scam.

I opened my wallet, making a show of getting ready to put the bills away, then snapped my fingers as if an idea had just dawned on me.

You know, Ive got a ton of ones in here. I wonder if you might be able to change them for a ten?

I didnt wait for her response but slid several ones from my billfold and added them to the change shed just given me. I left the five on the counter where shed laid it but handed her the ones.

Sure thing. I could always use smaller bills for the register. Her eyes never left Jimmy Boys face as she took the bills from me and handed me a ten, which I put into my wallet right away.

Jimmy Boy leaned in just a hair closer. You are sweeter than a speckled pup and twice as cute. Anyone ever tell you that?

Splotches of crimson appeared on the girls cheeks as she shook her head.

You better count that. Cant never be too careful, darlin, he said, and her eyes moved to the money in her hand as if shed only now realized there was a transaction being made.

I knew exactly how many bills there were and so did he, but this was the best part of the game.

Oops, theres only nine here. She counted through the stack of ones a second time to be sure. The poor girl actually looked apologetic, as if it had been her mistake.

But I didnt miss a beat. Youre kidding. Sorry about that, hon. Here you go.

I pulled out another one and laid it on the counter. She reached for it, but Jimmy Boy laid his hand over hers. You know, on second thought, Im sorry to be a hassle, darlin, but this one owes me twenty bucks. He jerked his head at me. And serves him right for betting against the Saints. Id rather not have all those bills in my wallet since its already so full I can hardly sit down. Jimmy Boy paused to let that sink in, and I didnt miss the spark of comprehension in her blue eyes. Her smile broadened a little.

Fine then, I said, coming in right on cue. How about you give me a twenty instead since Mr. Moneybags is too good for small bills? I added five more ones and nudged the five dollar bill still on the counter closer to the pile.

She giggled and let her hand linger under Jimmy Boys for a second before scooping up the bills Id added to the pile.

Sorry for eating up half your day with this nonsense, I said.

I cant say as Im sorry, Jimmy Boy said. Its been awfully nice taking up your time.

The girl was positively scarlet now, and her grin seemed to stretch across her entire face. Its been no trouble at all.

You promise?

Promise, she said and handed a twenty to Jimmy Boy. I havent much minded you taking up my time neither. Maybe while youre working on that deck, youll find you need a few more supplies and come on back to take up a little more of it.

Jimmy Boy pocketed the twenty and slid the small plastic box off the counter. The screws inside rattled as he shoved it into his pocket as well. Oh, Im willing to bet there might be one or two more things Ill have to run on back for. Jimmy Boy winked at her before pushing himself away from the counter. You have yourself a lovely day, miss.

Thats Tracy to you, she said. And Im here til we close up, so you make sure to ask for me if you need help finding anything.

Jimmy Boy nodded and crossed in front of me as he strode to the door. With one last smile to the blonde, he pushed it open, jostling the silver bell that punctuated his exit with a metallic jingling.

I hope yall enjoy that new deck, the girl said before I had a chance to follow after him. Maybe Ill even get to come by and see your handy work. She gave a shy smile. You should tell him that Id love to see it when its all done.

I surely will, Tracy. I tipped my head to her and followed my brother through the door.

Jimmy Boy was halfway to the battered old pickup truck when I stepped from the air-conditioned store into the heat of the late August morning. It was not yet nine, but the temperature neared ninety degrees. I jogged across the parking lot to catch up, and within seconds, the fabric of my white T-shirt clung to the damp skin of my back.

Get in the damn truck so we can get out of here, Jimmy Boy said as I circled around to the passenger side.

The good ol boy accent that had tinged every word hed said to the store clerk was gone, replaced with the typical Traveler cadence: a clipped Southern brogue. Travelers liked to retain a connection to their Irish roots even in their speech. Still, after living in the South for so long, we couldnt help but let a bit of a drawl seep in, even when we spoke amongst ourselves.

Jimmy Boy could move from a Cajun inflection to a country twang to a smooth Midwestern accent and back in the same sentence. I didnt have quite the same talent for it, but then, I hadnt had as many years of practice either, being cooped up in school until just two years ago.

We both climbed into the truck, and Jimmy Boy jammed the key in the ignition and turned it. The engine made a hacking noise. He tried the key again, and the truck sputtered and kicked but still refused to turn over. The statue of Jesus glued to the dashboard trembled with the violent motion. Jimmy Boy wasnt a devout Catholic like most Travelers (the colorful language that spewed from his mouth every time the old truck refused to start was proof of that), but hed kept the figurine because it was our da whod put it there to begin with.

This piece-of-shit truck, I said as Jimmy Boy twisted the key again. Eddie Sherlock rolled back into the Village with a brand new F-150, and were still driving this thing around. Do you know how embarrassing that is? Were grown men taking a full cut, and Maggie still wont let us buy a new one.